Breaks even out for Golden Knights’ Nick Holden against Ducks

Golden Knights defenseman Nick Holden said he wasn’t trying to score when he threw the puck off the back boards in the offensive zone about seven minutes into the second period of a 5-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

Golden Knights defenseman Nick Holden (22) celebrates his goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of an NHL hockey game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Golden Knights players celebrate a goal by Golden Knights defenseman Nick Holden (22) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Nick Holden has scored 21 goals in his eight-season NHL career. He said Wednesday’s was his weirdest yet.

The Golden Knights defenseman said he wasn’t trying to score when he threw the puck off the back boards in the offensive zone about seven minutes into the second period of a 5-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena. He was trying to find a creative way to get a pass to center William Karlsson.

But when the puck bounced past Karlsson, off Anaheim center Adam Henrique’s stick and in, Holden got perhaps the luckiest bounce of his hockey life.

No look. Between the legs. And then get credited with the goal. All in a days work for Nick Holden and the @GoldenKnights

“I was just trying to get it off the back boards, and obviously it bounced a little harder and their guy just batted it in,” Holden said.

The breaks evened out in the third period when Ducks backup goalie Ryan Miller denied Holden a second goal. Holden fired a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle with Miller out of his crease, but the goaltender dived back and used the side of his mask to make the save.

The stop kept Holden from the third two-goal game and second three-point game of his career. But because of how he got his first goal, he wasn’t complaining.

“Maybe it just evened everything out,” Holden said. “I shouldn’t have really scored the first one, and that one should’ve went in, but it hit him in the head.”

Hyka breaks through

Tomas Hyka hopes his first goal will serve as a springboard to more success for his maligned third line.

“I’m so glad I finally scored,” he said. “Hopefully, it will bring more.”

Hyka scored on a rebound after Tomas Nosek was denied on a hard drive to the net in the third period.

■ NBC Sports is producing a four-episode digital series called “Desert Gold” that will look back at the Knights’ first-year success. Episodes will debut Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, 17 and 21 and will be available on NBCSports.com, YouTube and Facebook Watch.

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